News From the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

In advance of Rosh Hashanah, clients of Jewish Community Services (JCS) Kosher Food Bank are receiving grocery gift cards along with their regular food packages, thanks to the generosity of donors to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.

As your trusted philanthropic partner, The Foundation of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation works every day with financial advisors and other professionals to share tax-wise information that enables you and your family to maximize your investment in the Jewish community.

Take part in Israel Day & Jewish Advocacy Day in Tallahassee with Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council January 26-27, 2026. Join Florida's Jewish federations, the Israeli Consulate, the Florida Jewish Legislative Caucus and the Jewish Agency for Israel to hear from high-level experts on Israel, antisemitism, education and innovation.

Federation’s Mishkan Miami: The Jewish Connection for Spiritual Support is seeking compassionate individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of others. The Refuat Ha-Nefesh Spiritual Care Program is a unique group of volunteers who will be trained in the mitzvah of bikur cholim (visiting the sick) and the art of spiritual care.

On Sunday, September 28, Greater Miami Jewish Federation chaplains and local clergy will lead community members in the annual High Holiday Memorial Services, Kever Avot. At a variety of cemeteries and virtually on Zoom, participants will join together in memory and prayer and kindle a yahrzeit candle for those who brought light into this world.

As we approach the High Holidays, it’s important to remember that all people — those with disabilities and those without — want to participate in community prayer. That is why the Federation Miami Jewish Abilities Alliance (MJAA) is sharing valuable resources to elevate worship and celebrate Judaism.

Our High Holiday Welcome Program is now offering free seats for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services to unaffiliated community members who are new to Miami or in financial need.

Federation Women's Philanthropy recently gathered to celebrate at their Annual Meeting and Installation. Held at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens, the event was an opportunity to thank outgoing Board members and install the new leadership for the coming year. Elise Udelson, who served with distinction as President the past two years, was recognized for her passion and commitment to the Jewish people.

As children in Israel return to school, Federation continues to support their resilience, especially for those displaced from the north and the south. A recent allocation to local Israeli government agencies from Jewish Federations of North America of more than $63 million will sustain and rebuild vital educational infrastructure and programs for war-impacted communities, many whose members are first returning home.

There is nothing more powerful than looking into the eyes of a Holocaust Survivor and hearing, “I was there.” Our teens are the last generation who can hear history from the people who lived it and now have that opportunity by applying for the Leo Martin March of the Living, April 12-24, 2026. Operated by CAJE | The Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education, a Federation partner, the March takes Jewish high school students on a journey through Poland to explore the history of Jewish life before, during and after the Holocaust.

If you or someone you know has suffered the unimaginable loss of a teen or adult child, you may be interested in a new local peer support group for grieving parents, presented by Federation’s Mishkan Miami.

Our High Holiday Welcome Program is now offering free seats for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services to unaffiliated community members who are new to Miami or in financial need.

Apply now for one of Federation's three 2025 grant opportunities — Women's Impact Initiative Grants, Jewish Incubator Grants and the new Israel Engagement & Education Grants — before the deadline of Friday, September 12.

Since October 7, 2023, Federation has been helping Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reservists heal from the emotional and psychological effects of combat-related trauma through a program called B’shvil HaMachar.

Calling all B'nai Mitzvah students: Become a Young Lion of Judah and create intergenerational relationships with Holocaust Survivors, while learning to share their brave stories of survival.

As the brave men and women of the Israel Defense Forces continue to defend our spiritual homeland in Operation Iron Swords, Federation is supporting thousands of lone soldiers, individuals who have made aliyah to Israel alone and lack the support network of friends and family typically available to their native Israeli peers.

This summer, Federation camp subsidies enabled almost 350 Miami-Dade children and teens to deepen their connection to their Jewish heritage and connect with their Jewish community. Our Jewish Overnight Summer Camp Scholarships awarded nearly $200,000 to campers ages 8-17, offsetting their tuition costs at Jewish camps across the country.

Make 5786 a time of Jewish renewal and connection for you and your family by joining a local synagogue. With the High Holidays only a few weeks away, now is the perfect time to find a spiritual home. Plus, during challenging times such as these for Israel and the Jewish people, connecting with the community can bring solace and a shared sense of unity.